2016 NFL Draft: 10 Players the San Francisco 49ers Should Target
By Peter Panacy
Inside Linebacker Scooby Wright III, Arizona
Had it not been for a meniscus injury, which limited him to just three games in 2015, Arizona inside linebacker Scooby Wright III may very well have been a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
Wright led all college football in tackles in 2014 (164) and earned that year’s Vince Lombardi award for his efforts. One can’t question his instincts or competitiveness on the field either.
And it also helps Rob Rang of CBS Sports compared Wright to former 49ers linebacker Chris Borland.
Wright’s injury recovery will be a point to watch in advance of the draft. Should that process go well, the 49ers may have no problem taking him late in the third or early in the fourth round.
STRENGTHS: Quick, instinctive and relentless, Wright is a classic tackling machine at inside linebacker. He’s consistently in position to make big plays in part due to his excellent diagnosis skills, showing excellent timing to jump the snap count and squeeze through gaps to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, including when rushing the quarterback.
Complementing Wright’s awareness is good athleticism, including the balance, lateral agility and active hands to avoid would-be blockers in the hole. He possesses good (but not great) speed to the flanks but is made faster due to his recognition, frequently slicing through the line on toss plays wide to bottle up backs before they have a chance to turn the corner.
WEAKNESSES: Though listed at a prototypical inside linebacker size of 6-feet, 246 pounds, Wright does not possess an ideal build for the position. He possesses a bit of a “beach build” with a relatively slim lower half which causes him to struggle to anchor.
His production was inflated by spinning off would-be blockers and tracking down ballcarriers in pursuit, as well the action being funneled to him in Arizona’s unique 3-3-5 spread defensive alignment. He was often asked to rush the quarterback rather than drop into coverage at Arizona and may lack the fluidity and straight-line speed to handle third down duties in today’s pass-happy NFL.
— Rob Rang, CBS Sports (12/28/15)
Why He Fits:
As is the case with inside linebacker prospect Jaylon Smith, the 49ers may look to reinforce the middle linebacker position this offseason to bolster the interior of their front-seven defense.
Linebacker NaVorro Bowman needs a complementary piece — one the Niners would have had if Borland hadn’t retired after his rookie season in 2014.
Additionally, Wright meets the bill when it comes to tackling and wrapping up ball-carriers. This was a problematic element for San Francisco’s defense a year ago, so addressing it — even if it comes with some injury concern — should be one of the top priorities for general manager Trent Baalke in the draft.
Next: OLB Eric Striker